The Rafah crossing is at the border of southern Gaza and Egypt, and is one of only two points of entry and exit for the Palestinian territory. Palestinians, some with foreign passports hoping to cross into Egypt and others waiting for aid wait at the Rafah crossing in the southern Gaza strip, on October 16, 2023. Smoke rises after Israeli airstrikes hit Rafah as the Israeli attacks continue on the thirteenth day of the clashes in Rafah, Gaza on October 19, 2023. False hopesMany of the Americans in Gaza have family members there that do not have U.S. citizenship. While they can apply for visas for their immediate family members, they would have to leave extended family members behind, creating an impossible situation, they say.

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Persons: America's, Biden's, Amir Kaoud, Mohammed Abed, Kaoud, they're, Abed Rahim Khatib, Sameh Shoukry, Mahmoud Khaled, Israel Organizations: State Department, Hamas, NBC News, Getty, The State Department, CNBC, Anadolu Agency, U.S, Embassy, Aid Locations: Gaza, Israel, Palestinian, American, Rafah, Egypt, Gaza's, U.S, North Sinai